Instytucjonalizacja stosunków transatlantyckich

Abstract

The article presents the institutionalization process of the transatlantic relationship at an intergovernmental, transgovernmental and trans national levels. Part one of the paper covers the years from the end of World War II up to the Soviet Union collapse at the end of the 1980s. During this period the partnership between the European Union and the United States was mainly inspired by the Cold War and common security interests. Part two analyses their relations in the 1990s as they were affected by radical structural changes to the international economic and political orders. Although the EU and the U.S. established diplomatic relations in early 1950s, cooperation between them was formalised for the first time in 1990 with the Transatlantic Declaration. Subsequently, the New Atlantic Agenda was launched in 1996 and the Transatlantic Economic Partnership in 1998. These transatlantic agreements focus on economic and political ties. They provide an institutionalised framework for official EU-US interactions: regular meetings at the Presidential, Ministerial and working levels. Each agreement created a new sphere of activity in transatlantic relations by adding principles and goals for cooperation and by establishing institutions to manage policy coordination. Nowadays transatlantic relations are an example of a partnership that ranks among the most significant and solid ones to be found in the global political and economic system. They are based upon strong roots and common values such as democracy founded on human rights and rules of
law, innovative economies and sustainable growth. Moreover, this strong cooperation, rather than focusing just on bilateral matters, also extends onto many international forums, like WTO. There is no doubt that an additional value, as the positive side effect of EU-US cooperation, has brought enormous contribution to the multi-sphere global development.